Bernhard Langer started 2014 right where he left off in 2013. He served notice to the rest of the Champions Tour that he fully intends to win the 2014 Charles Schwab Cup.

If someone else wants it, they will have to take it away from him.

Langer finished 2013 behind Kenny Perry in the Charles Schwab Cup standings and in the Player of the Year balloting.

He did not miss a cut in 24 starts last year, posted 18 top-10 finishes and finished inside the Top 25 in 23 tournaments.

Langer’s final round 64 at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship was the low round of the day, earned him $307,000 and jumped him into the lead in the 2014 Charles Schwab Cup race.

Given Langer’s outstanding consistency, if he is not hampered by his touchy thumb which has caused him some issues over the past three years, they may as well just give him the Charles Schwab Cup right now.

Even though, Jeff Sluman shot a final round 65 and Fred Couples posted a 67, they finished tied for second place, a distant four shots behind Langer.

Langer blitzed the back nine on Sunday with five consecutive birdies from Nos. 13-17. He carded a six-under par 30 on those final nine holes for the win. 

Jay Haas also posted a 65 on Sunday to finish solo fourth at 17-under par. Rocco Mediate had the lead early, shot a final round 67 and finished in fifth place.

Perry also played with the young guys last week in Hawaii in the Sony Open on the PGA Tour, but missed the cut.

He finished at four-under par for the Mitsubishi Electric Championship and was never a factor. He ended T-34 in the 41-man field.

Langer took the lead into the final round in several events last year, but had trouble finishing. Evidently he figured out his problem in the off season because he finished strong in Hawaii to start the year.